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“There’s a lot of teams in and around us. We’ve come through a very difficult period in terms of fixtures. I think some of the teams around us haven’t had that quality to go up against - and still haven’t picked up as many points as they would have hoped.

“We are really looking to go into these fixtures and pick up maximum points because we feel these teams around us won’t be able to pick up as many points as we did against the teams that we faced.

“We’ve got opportunities. I think there’s only the Southampton game where we were considered favourites going into the game. This game is probably the one where we are more clear favourites. We have to deal with that and get the job done.

Darren Fletcher... the agony of a heavy defeat is writ large at the final whistle (Image: Getty)

“We are not in must-win situations. A lot of people at the start of the season thought we wouldn’t have any points at this stage!

“It’s more a key period than a must-win situation. We’ve really got an opportunity to get points on the board and get back-to-back wins and, if you do that in the Premier League, you shoot up the table.

Hughes hinted at a return to a back three and wing backs, but may be forced into a back four because of various question marks among his defenders.

Skipper Ryan Shawcross has trained and could be available after two months out with a torn back muscle, but Hughes may be reluctant to risk him, while Bruno Martins Indi is touch and go with a sore calf.

Teenager Tom Edwards was hoping to demonstrate his fitness, however, after being laid up all week with the bruised ankle he suffered on debut at Manchester City seven days ago.

And Joe Allen is fit to return after missing the Manchester game through concussion to free up Geoff Cameron for a return to Stoke’s rearguard.